On December 8, NRNU MEPhI hosted the traditional Career Day for foreign students and graduates of flagship universities of the Rosatom State Corporation. This year, more than 150 participants from more than 30 countries joined the event offline and online. Foreign students from MEPhI, IATE MEPhI, MSTU Bauman, MPEI, TPU, St. Petersburg State University, UrFU and other leading universities providing training in nuclear specialties, had the opportunity to learn about the ways of developing their careers in the nuclear industry and directly ask questions to their future employers.
At the plenary session, the participants were addressed by the Rector of NRNU MEPhI Vladimir Shevchenko, the Head of the Project Office of the State Corporation Rosatom Valery Karezin, the Vice-Rector for international cooperation of NRNU MEPhI Dmitry Savkin and the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Plurinational State of Bolivia to Russia Maria Luisa Ramos Ursagaste. All distinguished guests noted the importance of the Career Day being held for the fifth time for both students and employers, who had the opportunity to meet and learn the needs of potential candidates and the labor market in direct dialogue. “The range of Rosatom’s international projects has expanded incredibly, and we are no longer talking only about energy products, but also about so-called new areas of activity: renewable energy, wind energy, materials science, nuclear medicine and much, much more. Today, students from more than 60 countries study at our university, at the Moscow and Obninsk sites, and other branches in Russia and abroad. We will undoubtedly develop this international vector further,” Vladimir Shevchenko noted in his speech. Valery Karezin emphasized the State Corporation’s interest in the development and future employment of students: “We have a fairly wide community, which includes countries with different conditions, both natural and economic. But it is very important that this is a community of high professionals. And, believe me, each of you is worth very much in the market – as a specialist, as a professional. And I wish you to realize your potential.”
Director for Partners’ and Alumni Relations of NRNU MEPhI Marina Stupnikova spoke about the new project MEPhI Global Alumni Network and its advantages for foreign graduates of NRNU MEPhI and flagship universities of the State Corporation Rosatom, including in the field of their professional development. Within the framework of four regional career sessions for the CIS countries, Asia, Africa and Latin America, representatives of nine industry organizations from partner countries of the State Corporation Rosatom, as well as employees of subsidiaries of the State Corporation Rosatom, spoke about the development of national nuclear projects, nuclear infrastructure facilities, job prospects in the nuclear industry and answered numerous questions from the audience. Among the participants in the career sessions were Rosatom’s largest industry partners in foreign countries: Uzatom Agency under the Ministry of Energy of the Republic of Uzbekistan, Belenergo State Production Association, Vietnam Institute of Atomic Energy Vinatom, Ministry of Electricity and Renewable Energy of Sri Lanka, Ministry of Technology and Science of Myanmar, Agency on Atomic Energy of Bolivia (ABEN), etc. MEPhI graduates from Uzbekistan, Myanmar and Nigeria, who continued their professional development in national organizations of the nuclear industry, shared their success stories.
The event ended with a career master class, during which business mentor and expert Liliya Shcheglova spoke about the secrets of creating the perfect resume and a successful interview, and also gave useful practical recommendations for effective employment.
Considering the high demand and interest of students in building their future careers, career guidance lectures, master classes and meetings with employers with the participation of representatives of the State Corporation Rosatom will be held at the Career Center for foreign students and graduates “Career Laboratory” of NRNU MEPhI regularly. Information about the Center’s planned events can be found by subscribing to the news of the VK group Global career for International students.
Since 2013, free training of African youth has been organized at Russian universities with nuclear programs. Currently 256 students from African countries, including Rwanda, Ghana, Egypt, Zambia, Kenya, Nigeria, Tanzania, Uganda, Ethiopia and South Africa, are being trained there. The high demand of nuclear specialists provides them with excellent opportunities for career growth both at home and around the world. In 2011 the Consortium of nuclear universities was established. This association was designed to provide nuclear educational support for projects in Russia and twelve other countries. Now the Consortium includes 18 specialized universities, such as Peoples’ Friendship University of Russia (RUDN) and the Tomsk Polytechnic University, training personnel for design, creation and operation of nuclear power plants. Moreover, in 2019 nuclear scholarships for African students were introduced to help the next generation of African scientists and nuclear engineers to emerge. The purpose of this program is to support the interest of young Africans in nuclear research and opportunities.
